The average American will eat 3.4 pounds of turkey this year, with a good part of that amount devoured today.

Total meat consumption hit a record 195 pounds per person in 2000, the last year a survey was taken. That was 57 pounds more than in the 1950s.

Fruit and vegetable consumption are also sharply higher.

By comparison, people in other developed nations eat 30 percent less meat in their diet, while people in underdeveloped countries consume 48 pounds of meat a year.

Other facts to consider:

* Sixty-nine percent of Americans now own their homes. That’s 10 percent higher than 40 years ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The value of our homes has grown steadily over the last half-century as well, contributing to a big increase in personal wealth.

* The average household in this country now has 2.4 TV sets, compared with 1.7 sets in the early 1980s.

* Life expectancy in the U.S. at the time of the last census was 77.1 years, up one year from the previous survey taken 10 years earlier.

In 1960, Americans’ life expectancy was less than 70 years.

* Even though millions remain uninsured, the U.S. spends more on health care than any other nation in the world.

Americans are even getting taller – one benefit, the experts say, of better health.

* In the U.S., 7.9 million households have three or more cars. Nearly 51 million households have at least one car.

* The U.S. is now the richest country in the world on a per capita basis, according to Richard Steckel, a professor at Ohio State University. No other country comes close.

* Despite the perceived crisis in education, 85 percent of all Americans now complete high school.

In 1991, that number was 79 percent. And nearly 28 percent of Americans in 2005 completed four years of college vs. 21 percent in 2000 and the mid-teens in the 1970s.

* Sixty-seven percent of Americans who were recently surveyed said they believe their lives will be better five years from now.

* Americans might intend to spend cautiously this Christmas season, but 55 percent still plan to spend a hefty $500 on gifts. And more than 27 percent of the people recently questioned by Discover Card have earmarked $500 to $1,000 on gifts.

* Thousands of people slept out on the cold street to get their hands on a Sony PlayStation 3 last week.

Millions more will spend well over the $500 list price for the game console this holiday season.

* The U.S. Census Bureau’s last report – registering conditions in 1998 – reported that 97.8 percent of Americans “had enough of the food [they] wanted; 96.2 percent never had a phone disconnected for nonpayment and 95.9 percent considered their home safe.”

These – along with non-material blessings like a strong family and good friends – are just some of the things we can be grateful for this Thanksgiving.

I realize that not everyone is getting to share equally in the plenty. But still, America is lucky.

The list above isn’t intended to be just a filler column for the holiday.

What I would like all of us to remember is that affluence is not a birthright.

We shouldn’t take any of our riches for granted.

We’ve gotten as far as we have because of decisions in the past made by enlightened and responsible people in government and business.

And without some newfound fiscal responsibility and intelligent decision making these impressive numbers might start contracting.